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Tao Te Ching · 36 of 81

Chapter 36

When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will first have made gifts to him:—this is called ‘Hiding the light (of his procedure).’

The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.

Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.

Asked of Guide

Why does Lao Tzu say the soft overcomes the hard and the weak the strong?

Lao Tzu describes a pattern where apparent retreat or humility produces power: before taking, one makes an expiration; before overthrowing, one has raised up. The chapter names this tactic ‘Hiding the light,’ and shows strength operating through restraint and subtlety rather than force.

By saying ‘The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong,’ Lao Tzu asserts that yielding, low posture, and concealment win over blunt superiority. This idea echoes Chuang Tzu’s view that Tao acts by non-action—efficacy comes from unobtrusive, adaptive conduct rather than direct confrontation.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.

Echoes elsewhere

Chuang Tzu · Taoism37. 1. The Tâo in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do. 2. If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all th Tertium Organum: The Third Canon of Thought · Esotericstate of repose will gradually arise. Tao is eternally inactive, and yet it leaves nothing undone. The pursuit of book-learning brings about daily increase (i. e., the increase of The Sayings of Lao Tzu · Taoismlong, how much less can man! Attain complete vacuity, and sedulously preserve a state of repose. Tao is eternally inactive, and yet it leaves nothing undone. If kings and princes c